This year, the Alaska State Legislature will consider allowing the citizens of Alaska to vote on amending our constitution regarding vacating the Blaine Amendment. Blaine Amendment: Denies public funds to be used for anything but public education. Senate bill: SJR9 House bill: HJR1 Are bills which, if passed, allow the citizens of Alaska to decide if public funds should be used in more diverse educational venues. Argument against: 1. Public Education would be gutted without the monopoly of financial resources. 2. The choice of religious education is a violation of church and state 3. Parents are apathetic to education and are not engaged enough to make sound educational choices for their children. 4. A rising tide floats all boats and educational diversity would discriminate and cause large disparity. 5. Standards of education would be abandoned Arguments for: 1. Currently, public education in Alaska ranks 39th in the nation and 3rd in funding. Competition would challenge public education to achieve better results. 2. If these bills passed and educational money followed the student, the state is merely a repository for the educational value. The money is not owned by the state, but is a resource of the people. Currently, there are countless examoles of public funds going to religious affiliations. 3. Many parents are disengaged, but I would suggest this is a direct result of public education. Encouraging parents to make educational choices is a good thing. Promoting anything else is promoting the idea that parents are not qualified, which to most, is an insult. 4. A rising tide floats all boats to mediocrity. Do you want a mediocre child? 5. Currently, the public schools are adopting common core which is a federal template for education. Diversity in education is the best way to diversify standards for results. Ultimately, your childs brain is the greatest resource this country has. Are we going to continue to perpetuate a public model of education which was constructed 100 years ago, or are we going to develop educational diversity so American children can compete on the global market. The choice is ours. We own our children, the government does not. Join me in contacting our legislators and asking them to support: Senate bill: SJR9 House bill: HJR1 You can obtain all legislators contact information by googling: Alaska State Legislature. Go to House and Senate tabs. Thank you for your consideration. Michael Chambers
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 02:23:51 +0000
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